Bacon-Wrapped Dates With Goat Cheese: A Tasty Appetizer That Can Fuel Good Mental Health? | Mental Health Recipes (2024)

Do you have an upcoming gathering you need to prepare for?

Or perhaps you don’t want to show up empty-handed to that next BBQ! We got you.

These bacon-wrapped dates with goat cheese are bound to be a crowd-pleaser. Not only that, but they also have some serious mental health benefits, making it a tasty and healthy option. Plus, these are so easy to make and take very little effort. This is a dish you can definitely be proud of!

So, how can you whip these up? And how do they contribute to better mental well-being?

Try These Bacon-Wrapped Dates at Your Next BBQ

Not going to lie; I will devour these as a snack with a few friends.

They aren’t just for large gatherings. Now, you may have heard of people adding dates to smoothies and other meals to improve satiety and add a few extra nutrients. But surprisingly, cooked dates with a bit of cheese and bacon offer the perfect texture and flavor (and many mental benefits!).

So, before we get to how exactly this recipe can improve your mental wellness, let’s dig into how to make them.

Related Article: 21 Ways to Improve Your Mental Well-Being Right Now

What’s the Big Deal With Dates For Mental Health?

Dates are one of those foods that are highly underestimated.

Small but mighty! Dates contain fiber, protein, magnesium, potassium, copper, iron, manganese, and vitamin B6. So, here are the mental health benefits connected to these nutrients!

1. Fiber Helps Control Blood Sugar Levels (And Energy!).

Fiber slows down digestion, which delivers a slow and steady supply of sugar into the bloodstream.

In turn, this prevents high-highs and low-lows in terms of energy and mood.

If you find you have many ups and downs throughout your day, especially around eating, then having foods high in fiber (and protein) might help you regulate and find a more calm and peaceful state.

2. Dates Also Have Plenty of Antioxidants.

Antioxidants help protect our bodies and minds from harm caused by free radicals.

Free radicals occur naturally as a byproduct of metabolism (thus, there’s no preventing this!). However, consuming foods containing plenty of antioxidants can help lower inflammation and keep our health on track.

The lowdown: Antioxidants protect the brain, which may contribute to better mental wellness and a better mood!

3. Vitamin B6 Helps Boost Neurotransmitters.

Neurotransmitters allow our nerve cells and nervous system to properly communicate and send messages. GABA, dopamine, and serotonin, the major neurotransmitters in the brain, require vitamin B6 to be produced in ample amounts and function properly.

4. Magnesium Can Calm Stress and Anxiety

Magnesium has been shown to help all kinds of anxiety, including anxiety associated with PMS, generalized anxiety disorders, and postpartum anxiety.

It does this by enhancing brain function and regulating essential neurotransmitters in the brain.

In fact, research suggests that magnesium has an impact on the hypothalamus region of the brain, which regulates glands associated with the stress response.

Related Article: Have You Ever Wondered How Much Your Diet Affects Your Mental Health?

Bacon-Wrapped Dates With Goat Cheese

Prep time:

10 minutes

Cook time:

20 minutes

Total time:

30 minutes

Recipe Category:

bacon

Ingredients:

• 8 slices of bacon
• 16 dates
• Goat cheese
• Toothpicks

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 425℉.
2. Cut your dates down their length, the remove their pits.
3. Fill each date with ample goat cheese.
4. Cut your slices of bacon in half, then roll each date in a piece of bacon, securing it with a toothpick.
5. Place the dates on a prepared baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes.
6. Take them out of the oven, remove the toothpicks, and bake for about 5-8 minutes more.
7. Let them cool for 5 minutes before serving, and enjoy!

Yield (servings):

8 servings